NEW DELHI: India’s Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday lashed out at PM Narendra Modi over the violence in Manipur state and the European Parliament (EU) discussing it, saying the latter has not uttered a word on either of these.
Taking to Twitter, Gandhi said, “Manipur burns. EU Parliament discusses India’s internal matter. PM hasn’t said a word on either!”
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary who has been attacking the government over its handling the situation in the violence-hit state, also slammed the Centre.
Targeting the Centre, he said, “In January 1977 a noted economist at Yale University, Richard Nelson published a very influential essay called ‘The Moon and the Ghetto’. It became required reading for people like me in graduate school. Nelson poses the question: why is it that a technologically dynamic America is able to land a man on the moon but is unable to meaningfully address its problems at home, especially in the inner cities.”
“It is a deeply thought-provoking analysis not without its relevance to us too,” the Congress leader said. “We can go to the moon but are unable or unwilling to deal with the basic issues our people face at home. An Indian version of the Nelson essay may read, The Moon and Manipur,” Ramesh added.
India on Thursday described as a reflection of a “colonial mindset” a resolution adopted at the European Parliament on the situation in Manipur.
Arindam Bagchi, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said such interference in India’s internal affairs is “unacceptable”. Manipur has been going through violent situation, especially in the aftermath of clashes between the Kuki and the Meitei communities for close to two months. Opposition parties have accused the government of failing to contain the violence.
